What happens if you skyclave apparition a commander?
Asked by Bkotz 3 years ago
Does it go back into the command zone after skyclave apparition is killed AND they get the token? Or does the commander get exiled and they just have the token?
One small correction, nobody creates a token, not even a 0/0, if there isn't a card in exile. The reason for this is that the ability can't find a player to give a token to.
9/25/2020 If there's no exiled card when Skyclave Apparition leaves the battlefield (most likely because its first ability hasn’t resolved yet), no player creates a token.
January 22, 2021 6:26 p.m.
Commander rules state that when a commander is put into exile, graveyard, hand, or library (basically anywhere other than the battlefield) its owner can have it go to the command zone instead.
In this case, if they don't their commander will be exiled permanently, and no player is ever likely to do this except in the edge case where they absolutely need the Illusion token.
January 22, 2021 7:06 p.m.
@Polaris it doesn't make a difference in this circumstance, but that's no longer quite accurate. If a commander would be put into hand or library, it's owner may put it into the command zone instead. If a commander is put into a graveyard or exile, the owner may put it into the command zone the next time state based actions are checked. This means it does trigger dies/exile abilities even if you put it into the command zone.
903.9. A commander may return to the command zone during a Commander game.
903.9a If a commander is in a graveyard or in exile and that card was put into that zone since the last time state-based actions were checked, its owner may put it into the command zone. This is a state-based action. See rule 704.
903.9b If a commander would be put into its owner's hand or library from anywhere, its owner may put it into the command zone instead. This replacement effect may apply more than once to the same event. This is an exception to rule 614.5.
This is a relatively recent rules change, previously it was a replacement effect for all 4 of those zones.
January 22, 2021 7:21 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #5
Yeah, I didn't read the card closely. I got caught up on what the token would be since there is no card in exile and didn't even consider that there is no person to create the token defined either.
Gidgetimer says... #1
Please link all cards in your question.
Skyclave Apparition
If the card is left in exile from the first ability, they will get a token whose P/T is the commander's CMC and the commander will not move.
If they put the commander in the command zone when it went into exile, a 0/0 will be made since there is no "exiled card" and the commander will remain in the command zone.
January 22, 2021 4:19 p.m.